Sunday, October 15, 2017

Write the Hard Stuff

I don’t tell God “no”
often. When he gives me an assignment, I’m off and running. I’m a faith
junky—usually. But the other day that still, small voice whispered something
that made me run in the other direction. My first reaction was not, “Here I am,
Lord! Send me!”

Nope. I wasn’t Isaiah.

I didn’t fall to my
knees as the humble Mary of Nazareth. “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me
as you have said.”

Nope.

My words sounded more
like, “Nope. Not gonna do it.”

Of course, my “nope”
leaves room for dialogue with the Father. I don’t want to miss an opportunity,
but this assignment will involve rejection. Strong disagreement. And haters who
refuse to consider another view.

As I told my prayer partner
about this, laughter bubbled from then other end. She knows this people-pleaser
chickens out of the controversial topics, and she knows that God loves me
enough to free me from such idolatry. With much wisdom she spoke once her
giggles subsided.

“Andy, what if that
book frees one soul? How can you not write it?”

I swallowed hard, and
tears welled. How could I not write a book that could free one gifted, yet too
bound to use her gift?

Has God called you to a book or an article you’d rather let
someone else write?

The truth is, someone
probably has written it in her words or his way, but nobody has inked the
passion, the truth, or story as you can. I hate it when my own advice comes
back to haunt me, but I wrote in A Mary
Like Me: Flawed Yet Called:

“Comparison often
stops us from taking those first steps of faith—from painting the picture,
writing that song, or publishing our book; we assume it’s already been painted
or written before. But if God has called you;
if he has given you that dream; then
he has purpose that only you can
fulfill. Someone needs to hear the message only you can write or paint. Someone needs to hear the gospel through
your shaky voice because you love them and have walked in their shoes.”

We must write out of
our passion.

When our writing
emerges from the depths of our healing, and our freedom, our truth united with
Jesus’s truth sets the captives free.

It’s not easy being a
writer. And I confess that as much as I begrudge the “feel good” books that our
culture is driven to, it would be a lot easier to stick with those types of
projects.

But I’m not called to
that, not this time.

What if no publisher
will touch this book with a ten-foot pole? Well, then I won’t have to worry
about the haters and bad reviews. But I will have obeyed what I believed God
told me to do. And I know he loves that.

I know that if just
one person is freed, maybe someone reading the manuscript, it’s worth it.

What’s God calling you
to write today? Did you say “no” too?

Let’s grab hands and
say “yes” together. Let’s jump off the cliff of obedience. Remember, it’s not
about the numbers and making everybody feel good, it’s about one person being
freed. Obedience is worth it.

Write the hard stuff.

Oh, man, I think I
just talked myself into writing another book.

As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet (and hands) of
those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15 addition mine).

Andy lee is the author of A Mary Like Me: Flawed Yet Called and The Book of Ruth Key Word Study: A 31 Day Journey to Hope and Promise.
She is a blogger, inspirational speaker, and empty-nest survivor. Join hundreds
of viewers on her Facebook Live broadcast Monday-Friday for the Bite of Bread, and visit her website at
www.wordsbyandylee.com where Andy
writes about digging deep to live fully.